MORE than 100 carol singers, a town crier and Father Christmas will all help launch Chester-le-Street's Christmas activities. on Saturday.

At 1pm Father Christmas will arrive on a sledge and then throughout the afternoon carols will be sung in the town centre

Children from Newker Primary School, Chester-le-Street Civic Choir, the Churches Together Choir and Salvation Army will sing around the town's Christmas tree and. church groups will perform a church service.

At 4.30pm Chester-le-Street's new town crier, Marjorie Dodd, will make her debut in the role.

She will introduce the chairman of Chester-le-Street District Council, Coun Bill Laverick, who will switch on the town's Christmas lights.

Marjorie, a retired schoolteacher, was the only woman out of five candidates to be shortlisted for the post .

She won over a crowd of shoppers and judges when they were all asked to perform in Chester-le-Street town centre several weeks ago.

The afternoon will be rounded off with community carol singing.

Throughout the day there will also be chestnut sellers and characters in period costumes. will be milling around

Santa will have his grotto in St. Cuthbert's Walk shopping precinct. It will be run by the Rotary Club, who will be raising money for local charities.